[Status asthmaticus with rhabdomyolysis of the respiratory muscles]. / Status asthmaticus mit Rhab domyolyse der Atemmuskulatur.

A 40-year-old roofer called the medical emergency team because of sudden dyspnea and chest constriction. He was suffering from bronchial asthma that exacerbated probably due to the inhalation of a solvent while at work. Because of status asthmaticus he was intubated immediately after arrival in the hospital and breathing had to be assisted artificially for ten hours. After extubation he complained of chest pain. In view of an elevated creatinkinase of 4368 U/1 this was interpreted as rhabdomyolysis of the respiratory muscles due to the status asthmaticus. As a cause of chest pain and elevation of creatinkinase after severe respiratory work under hypoxic conditions rhabdomyolysis of the involved musculature has to be considered.

Idiopathic non-histaminergic angio-oedema after routine extubation successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma.

Non-allergic angio-oedema is a potentially life-threatening condition typically seen in patients with hereditary or acquired angio-oedema caused by C1 inhibitor deficiency or an adverse drug reaction to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors. We report a case of sudden angio-oedema in a patient who developed severe swelling of the tongue and neck after routine extubation requiring resuscitative re-intubation. The oedema was refractory to conventional allergy treatment. Shortly thereafter, the patient was treated with fresh frozen plasma, and within a few hours his condition improved, allowing extubation. Familial history and exposure to potentially angio-oedema causative drugs were not evident. The serum complement status was normal, and no IgE sensitisation was detected. We therefore concluded that the patient was suffering from idiopathic non-histaminergic angio-oedema. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an acute, life-threatening attack of idiopathic non-histaminergic angio-oedema that was successfully treated with fresh frozen plasma.

[Management of war injuries from the anesthesiologic point of view: a report of experiences from the IKRK hospital in Kabul, September 1990]. / Die Versorgung Kriegsverletzter aus anästhesiologischer Sicht: Ein Erlebnisbericht aus dem IKRK-Spital in Kabul, September 1990.

We report the medical experience during a 3 week stay in the ICRC hospital of Kabul as anaesthesist. 170 war wounded patients had been treated following clear and simple rools of war surgery. The anaesthetic management and the important role of Ketamin is explained.

[Cataract surgery in a patient with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome]. / Kataraktoperation bei einem Patienten mit schwerem obstruktivem Schlafapnoesyndrom.

This case report describes airway management during cataract surgery for a patient with known severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Surgery could not be performed using a pure local anesthetic procedure because of the psychological history of the patient. In consideration of the severity of the patient's sleep apnea syndrome, we chose an anesthetic procedure that would compromise the upper airway as little as possible. For respiratory strategy, the patient's own nasal CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) equipment was used. Anesthesia was maintained with continuous infusion of propofol and remifentanil while the patient was breathing spontaneously. The patient was transferred to the recovery room where nasal CPAP was continued for 1 h until the patient was returned to the ward.

[Detection of drugs in meconium]. / Nachweis von Drogen im Mekonium.

BACKGROUND: The number of newborn infants exposed to drugs in utero is on the increase in many European countries. As drug use reported by addicted pregnant women is unreliable there is a need for an accurate test to determine the drugs to which an infant has been exposed in utero. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of toxicology testing in meconium compared with traditional urine testing. METHODS: From twenty newborn infants born to drug-dependent mothers, meconium and urine were collected as soon as possible after birth and tested for drugs with the same radioimmunoassay. Five neonates were premature (Gestational weeks less than 37), six were small and three microcephalic for gestational age. RESULTS: Meconium was positive for drugs in 19 infants (95%) (Methadone 9, Morphine 9, Cocaine 6, Cannabis 4). Urine testing revealed the presence of drugs in 13 babies (65%) (Methadone 9, Morphine 6, Cocaine 4, Cannabis 1, Barbiturates 1). Five infants did not have any drug withdrawal, five had mild and ten severe withdrawal symptoms necessitating treatment with chlorpromazine and in four instances additional pethidine. CONCLUSIONS: Meconium is not only easier to collect but also at least as reliable as urine for drug detection in neonates.